City officials commit to finding a home for Public Works Division 4

Mayor William Peduto joined with South Pittsburgh area City Council members in announcing Division 4 they have committed to finding a home for Public Works Division 4. Division 4 on Bausman Street closed at the end of October due to deteriorating conditions at the facility.

Mayor William Peduto and members of Pittsburgh City Council have committed to finding a home in the city's southern neighborhoods for the 4th Division of the Department of Public Works.

The division was closed in October 2017 after a structural engineering report found its facilities on Bausman Street in Knoxville were unsafe for both workers and machinery.

Previous condition assessments by the Massaro Corp. of the storage shed and salt dome at the site at 414 Bausman Street had called the facilities an "eyesore" and rated the buildings to be in critical to fair condition.

A more recent report filed in August by structural engineers Walter P. Moore Associates found "potential life safety hazards" at the facilities, causing the Department of Public Works in conjunction with the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections to call for the closure of the buildings.

The Peduto administration has agreed with council members from southern and western neighborhoods of the city to find a location for the 4th Division by July of this year. Pending the search for a location no budget has been set for the project, but there is almost $1 million set aside in the city's Capital Budget for 4th Division improvements in prior year funds.

"Providing public works services promptly and efficiently to our residents is one of the most important roles the city performs. Having a new 4th Division will help our workers do just that," Mayor Peduto said.

"This is great news for southern neighborhoods and will help promote core services within the city," Council President Bruce Kraus said.

"Closing the 4th Division presented us with unique challenges," said Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith. "I want to thank the mayor for recognizing that reopening it will address critical needs for our residents, and they will be very happy with the news."

"As one of my first acts in office, I am thrilled to work with my colleagues and the mayor to bring forth the announcement of the re-building of our 4th Division Public Works facility," Councilman Anthony Coghill said.

"As we saw over this past weekend, having our drivers come from different areas of the city caused drastic delays in service to some of our hilliest neighborhoods in South Pittsburgh. By re-opening this division, the city can assure that the hard-working men and women of the 4th Division can provide coverage for our residents' basic needs in District 4. I look forward to working with our communities to find an appropriate site on which to construct the new facility."